ADL Appalled by Church Vandalism Incidents in Wilmington, MA

Boston, MA, February 4, 2013 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today expressed horror about a slew of church vandalism incidents in Wilmington, Massachusetts, north of Boston.

Three area churches, including St. Thomas of Villanova, St. Dorothy’s Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant Congregational Church were defaced with anti-Christian graffiti, including the words “brainwashing.” The graffiti was discovered on the morning of February 2.

Robert Trestan, Acting ADL New England Regional Director, issued the following statement:

We were horrified by the hateful messages that were scrawled on the walls and statues of sacred Christian sites in Wilmington. An attack on any place of worship is an assault on the entire community.

We are confident that law enforcement is making this investigation a priority and that those responsible will be apprehended and prosecuted. We call on people of all faiths to denounce these acts and stand in solidarity with the Wilmington churches and the affected parishes.

ADL is the world’s leading anti-hate organization. Founded in 1913 in response to an escalating climate of anti-Semitism and bigotry, its timeless mission is to protect the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment for all. Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of hate with the same vigor and passion. A global leader in exposing extremism, delivering anti-bias education, and fighting hate online, ADL is the first call when acts of anti-Semitism occur. ADL’s ultimate goal is a world in which no group or individual suffers from bias, discrimination or hate.